ATNS FEATURE

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F l i g h t o F t h e

n a v i g a t o r s

atNS is responsible for the efficient running of south africa’s

air traffic Control systems.

F l i g h t o F t h e

n a v i g a t o r s

atNS FEatUrE

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aTNS, the Air Traffic and Navigation Services Company of South Africa, is the sole provider of air traffic, navigation, training and associated

services within South Africa. Operating at 21 airports, including Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban International, more than half a million aircraft arrival and departure movements are handled annually by its highly trained air traffic management specialists.

“We are responsible for the efficient running of SA’s air traffic control systems,” says Anna Sanfilippo, ATNS marketing and communications manager, who spoke to our researcher in September.

ATNS’ services extend further than air traffic control, however, and into the provision of vitally important aeronautical information used for all flight

planning purposes as well as search and rescue activities and the maintenance of a reliable navigations infrastructure.

The Air Traffic Control (ATC) training academy trains international aviation professionals and maintains and subscribes to ICAO standards and recommended practices.

TRAINING FUTURE NAVIGATORS The Aviation Training Academy (ATA), was formed in 1995 to provide ATC training, aviation related training as well as a complete spectrum of technical training courses required for air traffic control, engineering support

and airports at the ATC Training centre. Since its inception the ATA has continued

to expand.


atNS FEatUrE

We are responsible for

the efficient running

of sa’s air traffic control systems

“With over 1000 employees, ATNS is committed to training and our training facilities are top notch,” says Sanfilippo. “Based just yards from our Head Office in Gauteng, our training academy not only services ATNS but also the rest of South Africa.

“Dependant on the job role,” she continues, “courses, exams and practical assessments are carried out at the academy in order to produce hard working employees who complete their job to the highest standard. Other areas of training also include HR, Finance and Development and Administration. All of which are again, carried out at the academy.”

It is the mission of the ATA to provide a comprehensive and affordable range of

applicable air navigation services training in accordance with regulatory regional and international standards.

The ATA maintains, amongst others, ISO 9001/2000 accreditation, which makes it a recognised and world-class training institution. The ATA fully subscribes to ICAO Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPS) and requirements as well.

“ATNS has ramped up its training,” Sanfilippo adds. Last year it increased numbers by around 10 percent through training and by hiring staff from the air force and abroad.

“I am delighted that we are able to invest in our youth in this manner,” says ATNS CEO Wrenelle Stander. “It gives me great pleasure


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With pride, we handle over

half a million arrival and departures annually

PROFESSIONALISM We ensure our customers that we will provide them with the sales and servicing of portable fi re extinguishers in a professional manner. Our services include:

- Inspections - Numbering (According to the NOSA register) - Recharging of depleted portable units - Hydrostatic Pressure Testing

With the servicing we include maintenance documentation. All our servicing is done in accordance to the South African Bureau of Standards 1475 specifi cations which is taken into serious consideration when evaluating service contractors. We are proud members of:

- SAQCC - Fire Protection Association (FPA) - Fire Fighting Equipment Traders Association (FFETA) - Natural Safety

TransFire was awarded with the SABS Diamond Mark, which is only presented to the companies, which have complied with the stringent SABS 1475 regulations.

TransFire was awarded with a SANAS Accreditation Certifi cate, which is only awarded to companies that are permitted to do Hydrostatic Pressure Testing.

TRANS FIRE SYSTEMS Trans Fire expanded, and by doing so Trans Fire Systems came into being to provide our customers with all their fi re protection needs. Trans Fire Systems will install and inspect almost every type of commercial automatic detection and suppression system which include:

- Alarm Systems - Suppression Systems - Carbon Dioxide Systems - Clean Agent Systems (FM 200) - Foam Systems - Access Control - CCTV

WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS In addition to comprehensive servicing we offer a full range of fi re fi ghting equipment which include:

- Hose Reels - Dry Chemical Powder Extinguishers - Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers - Trolley Units - Vehicle Fire Fighting Units - Fire Hoses - Symbolic Signs - Emergency Lighting - Fire Extinguisher Cabinets and much more.

SANAS ACCREDITATIONTransFire is approved by SANAS as an approved Inspection Body to conduct Hydrostatic Pressure Testing on transportable cylinders.The Occupational Health & Safety Act – Vessels Under Pressure Regulations states that an inspection and hydraulic test must be done by an approved inspection authority.

With only a few approved Inspection and Test Bodies in South Africa, TransFire is classifi ed as a Type C Inspection and Test body which means that we do not sub-contract any part of the inspection and tests.

SERVICES TO SUIT OUR CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS All our employees are professionals. Every employee at Trans Fire is trained to fulfi l the expectations of our clients. To sustain our image and reputation we have moral and ethical responsibilities to our customers to provide them with the most professional service possible. Annual inspections and services have to be done on a yearly basis and are adequate for most of our customers although many customers require semi-annual, quarterly or even monthly services.

FIRE TRAINING We have various fi re fi ghting courses available, ranging from intensive courses covering every aspect of fi re management, right down to basic courses that show you how to operate an extinguisher.

to empower such brilliant young minds who will one day be our future leaders.”

INVESTING IN YOUTH AND WOMENThe youth represent the large majority of people in South Africa. Isando-based ATNS has identified it a strategic necessity to tap into this market, particularly young women, and help empower these individuals so as to develop the people of the country.

ATNS employs 298 air traffic controllers (15 percent are women).

“The number of women working within the business has certainly increased,” says Sanfilippo.

ATNS has achieved a good ranking within the top companies in South Africa with regards to female representation at executive management and board level, she pointed out.

Training is important for another reason. Air traffic controllers, like most skilled workers, are in short supply. SA regularly loses staff to overseas.

LEADER IN THE FIELDATNS is an independent, commercialised company that was established in 1993.

As mentioned before, it is the sole provider of its unique services offering within South Africa, and operates at 21 airports throughout the country, including:

JohannesburgInternationalAirport CapeTownInternationalAirport DurbanInternationalAirport

An interesting fact is that Johannesburg can currently move a maximum of 56 aircraft an hour; Cape Town can move 34


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and Durban 28. But, the plan is to raise capacity to 64, 40 and 34, respectively. With limited runways and infrastructure, that could be a challenge.

“With pride, we handle over half a million arrival and departures annually,” says Sanfilippo.

INTERNATIONAL HEROESATNS gets 97 percent of its income from providing air traffic control services to airlines in South African airspace, but is also sells services to other countries in Africa. It is currently upgrading the satellite network across southern Africa to guide planes through the skies. The company will provide a similar network in northeast Africa.

“We continue to partner into Africa,” says Sanfilippo.

On the international front, ATNS is considered as a leading Air Navigation Service Provider.

As original founder of CANSO, the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation, which serves as the global voice for air traffic management, ATNS strives towards providing for superior quality, cost-effective service delivery. It is heavily involved in the industry and continues to work with many international counterparts to “pioneer innovation in air traffic management,” Sanfilippo says.

ATNS is affiliated to the National Department of Transport, with the minister as its only shareholder, and it has a clear vision. It wants to be ‘the preferred supplier of air traffic, navigation, training and associated services to the African continent and surrounding regions’. eND

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Isando Industrial Park Gewel Street Isando

Private Bag X15 Kempton Park 1620 South Africa

Tel: +27 11 961 0100 Fax: +27 11 392 3968

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ATNS FEATURE